Barahona.– The Senate of the Republic, in coordination with the Ministry of Culture, recognized this Sunday outstanding personalities of art, culture and social life of the provinces of the South of the country, during the closing ceremony of the Enriquillo 2026 Regional Cultural Festival.
The activity took place in the Antonio Méndez Auditorium of the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), Barahona campus, and was dedicated to highlighting the cultural identity of the provinces of Bahoruco, Pedernales, Barahona and Independencia, with a special dedication to the legendary artist Casandra Damirón.
The event was led by senators Moisés Ayala, Guillermo Lama and Dagoberto Rodríguez Adames, along with the Minister of Culture, Roberto Ángel Salcedo, who presented scrolls of recognition to outstanding figures of the region.
The welcoming remarks were delivered by the senator of Barahona, Moisés Ayala, who thanked the Ministry of Culture for its support and valued the importance of institutionalizing this type of event to promote cultural development and strengthen regional identity.
Ayala also highlighted the need to rescue and make visible the trajectories of figures who have contributed significantly to Dominican art and culture, such as María Montez and Ramón Oviedo, often little recognized.
For his part, the Minister of Culture, Roberto Ángel Salcedo, reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening the Enriquillo Festival and announced the holding of its second edition on May 14, 15 and 16, 2027, with the aim of consolidating it as an annual cultural reference event in the region.
During the ceremony, Dr. Rafael Leonidas Pérez Pérez, visual artist Norkelly Josefina Acosta Collado, and cultural manager Gustavo Antonio Díaz Féliz (Símbolo), were recognized for their contributions to art, culture, and education.
Posthumously, Dr. Leónidas Temístocles Féliz Suárez (“Temito”) was also honored for his contribution to medicine and popular culture, especially in the Cachúas of Barahona, as well as Aura Migdalia Moscoso Pérez (“Milagros”), for her extensive social work in the province of Bahoruco.
On behalf of those honored, Gustavo Antonio Díaz Féliz thanked for the recognition and valued the effort of the organizing authorities, highlighting the commitment to serve their land and contribute to the cultural development of the region.
The Enriquillo Cultural Festival 2026 took place from May 21st to 23rd at UASD Barahona, with the participation of legislative authorities, representatives of the Ministry of Culture, mayors, and various personalities from the political and cultural sphere of the South of the country.
